Denver Nugget shooting guard Gary Harris has been diagnosed with a right knee sprain/strain, the team announced Friday.
Harris left the Nuggets’ 120-113 win over the Detroit Pistons Thursday in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly on a dunk with 6:23 remaining in regulation. Harris limped to Denver’s bench and then stayed in the game to attempt a free-throw. Harris then walked to the Nuggets’ locker room under his own power.
“It’s a little sore right now,” Harris said after the game. “…I don’t know what it is. We’re going to figure it out and then just go from there.”
The 23-year-old is listed as questionable for Denver’s matchup Saturday in Memphis.
Harris is averaging a team-high 17.8 points and 35.0 minutes per game in his fourth professional season. Nuggets coach Michael Malone called Harris Denver’s “most complete basketball player” last week. In January, the Nuggets’ coach called his two-guard the Nuggets’ Most Valuable Player.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” Malone said. “You never want to see any player get hurt but Gary’s such a big part of our team. He’s in decent spirits right now so hopefully tomorrow we’ll get some more good news.”
Harris scored 11 points on 5-7 shooting in 28 minutes before the injury. Without their two-guard, the Nuggets were able to stave off a 26-point Pistons’ comeback to win 120-113.
“It was a scary fall,” Jamal Murray said. “You never want to see that happen. Hopefully, he’ll be back soon. I know he’s a tough guy.”
